I was born on December 15, 1967, on a sunny Friday afternoon in Nashville, Tennessee. Unbeknownst to my young parents, who were happily welcoming their first child into the world, something tragic was also happening that afternoon, just 385 miles away, in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. The Silver Bridge, built in 1928 connecting Gallipolis, Ohio,… Read more »
For nearly three years now our team at BWD has been in a constant state of flux and transition. From the unexpected deaths of Bill, Elsa, and Andy Thompson in 2019 and 2020 to the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, we’ve adapted, shifted, and reinvented ourselves again and again. We have a… Read more »
I remember the first time I took a photo of a bird with a cell phone and digiscope adapter. I was in North Dakota with Bill Thompson III more than a decade ago, and I was seeing my “lifer” Clark’s grebe through the lens of his scope. It was one of those epic moments in… Read more »
Do you remember the song “Cool Change” by the Australian musical group Little River Band? The song’s familiar refrain says, “Time for a cool change… I know that it’s time for a cool change.” That melodic earworm has been flowing through my brain for weeks now because it’s time for a cool change of our… Read more »
Allow us to introduce the 2021 Redstart Birding Optics Guide! It’s hot off the digital presses, it’s downloadable, it’s full of amazing products and content, and best of all, it’s FREE. Are you rolling your eyes at the thought of downloading yet another sales catalog to your growing digital pile? Trust us, our 2021 Optics Guide is much more than a catalog of products for you to flip through, although we do list them all—including every doggone detail and pricing… Read more »
Last year at this time we were in a COVID-19 tailspin at Bird Watcher’s Digest. Our governor had issued a shutdown order for all businesses in the state, and, like everyone in the world, we were terrified and dumbfounded. Honestly, our team of 12 people (who capably handle the daily workload of about 30 people) was just… Read more »
I’ve been in a funk for a while now. Do people even use the word “funk” anymore? It’s probably an antiquated throwback word, but it’s the best word I can conjure to describe the way I’m feeling. There are lots of reasons for my funk. I have some difficult anniversaries that circle ‘round this time… Read more »
When I was growing up in landlocked Tennessee, our family spent summers in Florida. Our annual pilgrimage to the Sunshine State involved loading up the Country Squire “Woody” Station Wagon to the hilt with beach towels, bathing suits, pots and pans, cooking spices, and groceries. I felt a “Lewis & Clark” kind of pioneering adventure… Read more »
Although Ohio winters can be quite long and dreary, one of the highlights for me is my backyard bird-feeding station. Winter birds with their colorful, cheerful presence can brighten even the most gray, snowy day. A few years ago I tried something new with my backyard feeding station that was a big hit with my… Read more »
Are you suffering from the “birding travel blues”? If you’re like me, you’re at home today daydreaming about distant lands and glorious life birds! Although our ability to travel this year has been hampered by COVID-19, birding and wildlife tours are gaining traction in the year ahead with birders who are eager to “get back out there.” While… Read more »
